The School Newspaper
Do more with this exercise
Read about Leo’s first months at a new school and the newspaper club. Then answer the questions.
Reading text
unfamiliar
new and not known to youclassmates
students in the same class as youtray
a flat object used to carry food and drinksinterviewing
asking people questions to learn about themfacts
pieces of information that are truefood bank
a place that gives food to people who need itfood bank
a place that gives food to people who need itvolunteer
a person who helps without being paidclassmates
students in the same class as youinvitation
an offer to join or do somethingPractice exercises
Choose the correct answer
Read the story and choose the best answer.
1.How did Leo travel to his old school?
2.Who invited Leo to join the newspaper?
3.What was Leo’s first article about?
4.What does Leo want to do next term?
Right or wrong?
Decide whether each statement agrees with the text.
5.Leo missed his bus stop on the first day.
6.Leo had written newspaper reports before joining the team.
7.The garden vegetables helped people outside the school.
Complete the sentence
Use a word or phrase from the story.
Listen and choose
Listen to each sentence and choose the answer.
11.What was Leo not used to?
12.What did Leo become more comfortable doing?
13.Who does Leo eat lunch with now?
Listen and write
Listen and type the sentence you hear.
14.Listen and write the sentence.
15.Listen and write the sentence.
16.Listen and write the sentence.
Frequently asked questions
What level is this reading text?
It is written for B1 learners. It contrasts used to for past habits, be used to for a familiar current state, and get used to for the process of becoming familiar.
How can I practise with this story?
Read first, answer the questions, listen to the narration and then try the dictation sentences.
Can I listen at a slower speed?
Yes. Play the whole story at 0.75× or replay one sentence when you need it.
Answer key
1. How did Leo travel to his old school?
Answer: On foot
He used to walk to his old school in five minutes.
2. Who invited Leo to join the newspaper?
Answer: Ms Brown
Ms Brown noticed Leo and invited him.
3. What was Leo’s first article about?
Answer: The school garden
He wrote about the school garden and its vegetables.
4. What does Leo want to do next term?
Answer: Help new students find a club
Leo wants to help new students find a suitable club.
5. Leo missed his bus stop on the first day.
Answer: True
He missed his stop and arrived as the bell was ringing.
6. Leo had written newspaper reports before joining the team.
Answer: False
He had written short stories, but never a report.
7. The garden vegetables helped people outside the school.
Answer: True
The students grew vegetables for a local food bank.
8. Leo ___ walk to his old school in five minutes.
Answer: used to
Used to describes his old walking habit.
9. After a few weeks, he started getting ___ speaking to strangers.
Answer: used to
Getting used to means becoming comfortable with a new activity.
10. A ___ helped explain the food bank to Leo.
Answer: volunteer
Amira was a volunteer at the food bank.
11. Listening question 11: Now he had to take a bus, and he was not used to getting up before seven.
Answer: Getting up before seven
The narrator says Leo was not used to getting up before seven.
12. Listening question 12: After a few weeks, he started getting used to speaking to strangers.
Answer: Speaking to strangers
He started getting used to speaking to strangers.
13. Listening question 13: He has also got used to eating lunch with the newspaper team.
Answer: The newspaper team
He has got used to eating lunch with the newspaper team.
14. Dictation 14
Answer: When Leo started at his new school in September, everything felt unfamiliar.
The sentence introduces Leo’s unfamiliar first day.
15. Dictation 15
Answer: Leo used to write short stories at home, but he had never written a report.
Used to describes a past habit of writing stories.
16. Dictation 16
Answer: Leo is used to the early bus now, but he still checks the stop twice.
Is used to describes Leo’s current familiarity with the bus.